MEPA has exempted the developers of a concrete plant, set to be sited above the underwater galleries supplying Malta with 8% of its drinking water, from the duty to conduct an Environment Impact Statement (EIS).
The proposed concrete plant lies in the proximity of the Ta’ Kandja pumping station, one of the major sources of groundwater extraction for potable purposes in Malta, accounting for over 8% of all extracted groundwater.
Despite acknowledging the risk of contamination, the Malta Resources Authority was satisfied by the mitigation measures against the risk of contamination agreed with the developer.
But the risk of any leak could be disastrous, because at present Malta lacks any equipment to detect ground water contamination immediately.
Contacted by MaltaToday, a spokesperson for the Water Services Corporation confirmed that at present contamination can only be detected upon reaching consumers’ tap water. “Whether we are aware or worried about the development is not the issue. We are obliged by the Food Safety Act to analyse for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at the consumers’ taps and for which we analyse according to the frequency stipulated by the said law. As regards monitoring ground water sources this falls under MRA’s responsibility.”
The project development statement presented to MEPA by quarry owner Emmanuel Psaila acknowledges that the major environmental impact of the project will be that on the Ta’ Kandja galleries.
According to the PDS prepared by Med Design, a company owned by Labour MP Charles Buhagiar, the site lies within the Groundwater Protection Zone – a designation for sources of groundwater – and overlies the Siggiewi Heading Gallery from the Ta’ Kandja Pumping Station.
The report cites the MRA saying that “the site is located within a quarry, the area has an extremely high vulnerability to pollution due to reduced thickness of the unsaturated zone.”
The distance separating the site and the central sump of the Ta’ Kandja pumping station is just around 40 metres. According to the MRA, two groundwater collecting galleries traverse the limestone beneath the quarry.
But following various discussions with the developer and the MRA Water Directorate, it was agreed the factory will be located in an area in “the quarry which has the minimum area overlying of the galleries beneath.”
According to the latest plans the actual factory does not overly the galleries. A thick waterproofing membrane similar to the ones used for landfills will be fixed underneath the ground slab under the area of the whole concrete block production plant.
The developer claims the pollutants are not directly produced by the brick-making process, since for this process only inert materials are used.
In a statement, Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar condemned MEPA’s decision to waive the EIS. “It is highly irresponsible of the Malta Resources Authority to rubber-stamp this threat to the public water supply which would make it possible for undetected oil leaks to end up our drinking water. What hydrological and hydro-geological investigations have been carried out to ensure that this will never happen? Has a risk assessment been carried out?”
The FAA contends it is unacceptable that an EIA is not carried out when it is evident that the proposed development is a direct threat to public health. FAA called on the Civil Protection Department to insist on a full environmental planning statement that will rule out any health risks to the population while preserving the pristine state of our water supply.